One of the greatest cities of the Himalaya, Kathmandu, Nepal, is a unique blend of thousand-year-old cultural practices and accelerated urban development. In this book, Thomas Bell recounts his experiences from his many years in the city—exploring in the process the rich history of Kathmandu and its many instances of self-reinvention. Closed to the outside world until 1951 and trapped in a medieval time warp, Kathmandu is, as Bell argues, a jewel of the art world, a carnival of sexual license, a hotbed of communist revolution, a paradigm of failed democracy, a case study in bungled western intervention, and an environmental catastrophe. The layered development of the city can be seen in the successive generations of its gods and goddesses; its comfort in the caste system and ethos of aristocracy and kingship; and the recent destabilizing effects of consumerist approaches and the push for egalitarianism and democracy. In important ways, Kathmandu’s rapid modernization can be seen as an extreme version of what is happening in other traditional societies. Bell also discusses the ramifications of the recent Nepal earthquake. A comprehensive look at a top global destination, Kathmandu is an entertaining and accessible chronicle for anyone eager to learn more about this fascinating city.
From “a major new talent” come short stories set in modern Nepal, about arranged marriages, forbidden desires, and the universal yearning for human connection (Amitav Ghosh). Set in a city where gods are omnipresent, privacy is elusive, and family defines identity, these are stories of men and women caught between their own needs and the demands of their society and culture. Psychologically rich and astonishingly acute, with “a masterful narrative style” (Ian MacMillan), Arresting God in Kathmandu introduces a potent new voice in contemporary fiction. “Upadhyay brings to readers the flavor of Nepal and its culture in this impressive collection of nine short stories. Like Ha Jin’s Bridegroom, Upadhyay’s stories portray the lives of simple yet psychologically complex characters and reveal much about the universal human condition in us all. . . . Upadhyay’s stories leave the reader with much food for thought and will make a good choice for book discussion groups.” —Library Journal
Kathmandu Valley Style captures the wealth of the past and illustrates how influences from the Malla Newar, Tibetan and Rana architecture have been incorporated into present-day buildings and lifestyles. Using traditional themes and building techniques in the restored historic and new structures has breathed fresh life into Kathmandu s rich living cultural heritage, and provided additional attractions for visitors.
In early 2020, at the age of 21, leaving all modes of support behind, Mohul Bhowmick set out on a solo trip to Nepal. Out of this came Seeking Kathmandu, which is an acclaimed piece of travel literature. Resplendent with tales of delight and hardship as well as the magnanimity and generosity of his hosts, this book speaks in agonising detail about the pleasures and pains of solo travel. Painting pictures with his flawless lyrical language and deep metaphysical examinations, Bhowmick takes the reader on an extremely pleasing visual journey of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, from the finesse of Kathmandu to the squalor of Bhaktapur and the grace of Pokhara. This is a travelogue like no other, albeit it being the author's first venture into non-fiction after three successful books of poetry.
I undertook this adventure to Nepal, this trek from Kathmandu to Mt. Everest, not as a conqueror of mountains, but rather to create a photographic journal of the people, their culture, and their natural environment. The year was 1973. To travel beyond the confines of the city of Kathmandu was to step back in time. Out of respect for the individuality of the people and their way of life, all photographs were taken as observed. I simply tried to capture and record spontaneous moments of life, as they were, in this unique place and time. I hope that this visual document will reverberate among my fellow travelers to Nepal¿past, present, and future¿and also among those not fortunate enough to travel there themselves, inspiring respect for the people, their customs, and a culture that developed over centuries.
A biography of Elizabeth Hawley, an American woman on her own in Nepal for more than four decades, celebrated as the official chronicler of Himalayan expedition climbing.
Kim Stanley Robinson's Escape From Kathmandu is a light-hearted fantasy tribute to the world of extreme mountain climbing follows the adventures of two American expatriates living in Nepal. Living in the city of Kathmandu in the Kingdom of Nepal are dozens of American and British expatriates who are in love with the Himalayas. George Fergusson is one of them--he works as a trek guide for "Take You Higher, Ltd.", leading groups of tourists into the back country and occasionally assisting on serious climbs. George "Freds" Fredericks is another--a tall, easy-going American who converted to Buddhism while in college. He visited Nepal one year and never went home. The adventures started when George and Freds got together over the capture of a Yeti--an abominable snowman--by a scientific expedition. The thought of such a wild and mysterious creature in captivity--in prison--was too much for them to bear. And in freeing the Yeti, a great partnership was born. George and Freds will go on to greater heights as they explore the mysteries of Nepal, from Shangri-La to Kathmandu's governmental bureaucracy. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The quest for a perfect romance. A couple set out to look for Shangri la and become immersed in the mysteries of the East. If you have ever wondered what it is like to hit the overland route to the East and what may await you on the way, then this is it. High romance in the mountains, mystery and enlightening encounters multiply as the story unfolds. 'A well-written thoroughly enjoyable book evoking the romance and adventure of this last frontier. The overland trek is particularly well handled as you would expect from a seasoned round the world traveler.' Printer's Pie review. In 'Looking for Kathmandu' you meet Peter Anscombe a Vietnam war veteran with a mighty chip upon his shoulder at what happened to him there. When, for reasons he finds hard to explain even to himself, he sets out on a great journey towards the East and India, he has no idea what will become of him, but he knows he seeks another, better world. In Istanbul he meets Birgit, a uni student who found herself signing up to join a coach heading East when she was in Amsterdam, crying uncontrollably as she felt her life dissolving. Fate seems to intervene to bring them together in Istanbul, but this is only the beginning of a journey which will take them across thousands of miles of deserts and mountains in the raw heart of Asia. Rainbows in profusion greet their eyes as they gaze out at the skies from their mountain viewpoint in Turkey. In old Persia, present day Iran, they find their own love nest in the heart of Teheran. By the shores of the Caspian Sea Birgit suddenly realizes that the fields they are standing beside waiting to hitch a lift towards the East are actually full of marijuana grass. She whoops with joy and harvests her crop, even though there is a death penalty in operation in the country for possession. In Afghanistan under the brilliant stars with the Milky Way visible in stunning clarity, the romance goes into overdrive. After a row, Birgit naked runs off into the desert night. Peter follows, alarmed at what might befall her. He catches up with her crouched at the bottom of a gully. He slowly descends the shifting sands of the gully in the night. 'Don't fight me, instead love me', he implores before she surrenders and they make passionate love. Now perfectly relaxed and at one with the world, Birgit finds a tortoise with a parasite bug clamped to its leg in the gully. With a long departed doctor for a father, she hands the tortoise to Peter to remove the parasite and cure the patient visitor from the natural world. Liberated, the tortoise proceeds on its way, the couple head into old Kabul, where they discover the great thriving city that existed before the wars began that were to tear out its heart. 'Looking for Kathmandu' immerses you in an East that is likely to disappear almost completely in the next few decades. It is a snapshot in time that reveals the magic and the mystery of cultures that were old even while the Western cultures were being born. You join the couple on their quest to enter this ancient civilization with its wonders, inexplicable coincidences and marvellously wise sages and holymen. Immersed in this world, the revelations and experiences that occur for both Birgit and Peter are destined to reveal them to themselves in a new stark light. Is it possible for them to survive the shocks and twists of fate that take them to a place from which there is no coming back?
Mohawk hair-cuts in Bali, yuppies in Hong Kong and Rambo rip-offs in the movie houses of Bombay are just a few of the jarring images that Iyer brings back from the Far East.
